41. Alessandra
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
alessandra
I’m used to leaving a boardroom full of men stunned speechless.
It usually follows me shutting down one of their misogynistic comments or proving that I actually know what I’m talking about.
Shock horror.
Honestly, it’s my favorite pastime.
Having three slightly inebriated women with love-heart headbands bouncing on their heads gawking at me is a first.
“Wow,” Quinn whispers.
“ That’s …sorry, I’m at a loss for words.”
Johanna sniffles, looking guilty.
“ I feel awful for being so rude to you when you first arrived.”
Laughter erupts from me, causing them all to stare at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“ Sorry . It’s just when you berated me, it made me like you even more.”
“Oh.” Johanna shimmies her shoulders.
“ Well , happy to do it again.”
Florence squints at me with one eye.
“ I think I fell in love with you when you fired my brother. I wish we got it on film.”
I finish raise my glass of wine.
“ To women taking charge.”
“To women taking charge,” they all cheer .
There’s a slight flutter in my chest.
When I first arrived in town, my mission was to keep my head down.
Johanna was an employee, so there were certain appearances to uphold there, but with Quinn and Florence , what was the point in getting to know them?
For all intents and purposes, they were no one to me.
But as we sit in front of the roaring fire in Johanna’s living room, wearing our pajamas and Galentine’s Day headwear, I wish we’d done this sooner.
They’re important to Booth , and he’s important to me.
Outside of that, they’re wonderful women.
Each with their own hardships they’ve openly shared, which led to me sharing my own story.
“Unlike these two townies”— Quinn jerks a thumb at Jo and Florence —“ I’m new to town, but I’ve gotten to know Martin pretty well over the last year and there’s definitely a change in him. He’s always ten minutes early for your coffee meetups, and I swear he sits a little taller when you walk in.”
My gaze drops, unsure of how to respond.
“God, sorry, me and my big mouth,” Quinn mutters and picks at a slice of brie on the charcuterie board.
“No. It’s not you,” I quickly interject.
“ I just can’t work out why he didn’t fight for his wife and child. I’ve only heard one side, but it still doesn’t make sense.”
Florence tilts her head.
“ Maybe he was scared. Still is. Sometimes people only fight when they have a chance of winning.”
“You think he knew his wife was always going to leave?” Jo asks.
“Yeah. And when he didn’t fight, it solidified her decision. From a young age, I always thought he looked sad. Remorseful . It makes sense now.” She offers me an encouraging smile.
“ Perhaps this is his redemption. Not just to get to know you, but potentially reconnect with his son. ”
Florence’s theory adds up.
“What will you do if Harvey doesn’t make contact before you leave?” Quinn asks quietly.
“ And what about the restaurant?”
The room falls silent.
I hate the answer to this question.
Especially when it was first given to Booth .
“I have to leave for Germany .” The invisible hand wrapped around my heart clenches harder.
“ The plan was never to be here longer than three months. Martin and I have agreed to keep in touch.” I pick at a broken cracker on my paper plate, pushing it around.
“ Also , let’s face it, the restaurant coped fine before I marched into town. I’ll be around should you guys need anything.”
The room pulses with the unspoken.
Quinn looks to Jo , who worries her lip before glancing at Florence , who breaks the silence.
“ And what about you and Booth ?”
My chest constricts and the cracker turns to dust between my fingers.
It’s useless lying to them.
“ We’ve agreed to keep things casual while I’m here. I’m sure we’ll keep in touch, too, but it wouldn’t work with me being in New York and him here. I hardly have time for friends because of my job, let alone a relationship.”
The words taste ashy.
Quinn’s bottom lip curls while Jo shakes her head subtly.
“Respectfully, that’s a load of bull.” Florence ignores our reactions to her abrupt tone and rises to her knees.
“ We all know my brother is a fool, but I thought you were smarter.”
I choke on air and splutter while staring at her in shock.
“Jeez, Flo , don’t hold back,” Jo grumbles under her breath.
Frustrated, she throws her hands up.
“ It’s true. Aly , you like my brother, correct? And he clearly likes you. We’ve never seen him like this with anyone and we’ve only just gotten to know you, but something tells me you’ve never been like this with anyone either.” Florence’s brows rise in challenge.
My mouth opens, ready to state my case, but it’s lost.
“Seems like a waste of something good.” She shrugs.
“ That’s all I’m saying.”
Theoretically, long distance is doable, but flights and FaceTimes would only work for so long.
Eventually , we’d want more.
More than either of us can give.
I’m needed in New York , and Booth’s already paved his future in Sutton Bay .
He’s made it explicitly clear his life starts and ends here.
There’s no convincing him otherwise, no matter how badly I want that more.
Drawing in a breath, I pluck the wine bottle up and top up everyone’s glasses.
“ Booth has been incredible over the last few weeks— I don’t know how I can repay him for what he’s done for me. He’s an amazing man, with so much potential, I just can’t see it working.” I give them each an apologetic look, lingering on Florence the longest. “ I’m sorry.”
Booth’s sister goes to speak again, but Jo stuffs a bread roll in her mouth.
“ That’s enough from you, missy. Leave her alone.”
With the interrogation over, we continue the evening.
Once the wine is gone, Quinn makes us hot cocoa while we watch ’90s rom-coms. My soul is happy when we all say good night, but also a little sad this might be the last time we all hang out.
I’ve finished in the bathroom, heading toward the guest room, when Jo rounds the corner.
“Oh, this is for you in case you get cold.” She hands me a spare blanket.
“Perfect. Thanks for letting me stay tonight. It was a lot of fun.” We share a smile, but before I can take a step, her words stop me.
“What did you mean when you said Booth had potential? ”
Shit.
I’d hoped no one caught that.
Blowing out a breath, I shake my head.
“ It was just a figure of speech.”
She frowns.
“ Or like me, you think he’s too big for this town.”
“What do you mean?” I ask hesitantly, voice low so the others don’t hear.
Jo peers down the hallway, grabs my wrist to drag me into the bedroom, then closes the door behind us.
“ I won’t be as blunt as Flo , but she’s right, you don’t suit playing dumb.”
I cross my arms. “ Was Galentine’s dinner just a ploy to lure me here?”
She huffs.
“ It’s a real thing. And we’ve genuinely loved having you here.” Her head tilts and eyes narrow.
“ Booth is like a little brother to me, and for as long as I’ve known him, being a chef was all he spoke about. When I returned to town, I was shocked to find he was still working here, because I’d always envisioned him in some high-end restaurant in the city.”
Face like granite, I don’t react, not wanting to betray Booth’s trust.
“His siblings have seen it. I’ve seen it. Even his mom. It’s only him who hasn’t.”
“See what?”
She smiles sadly, her words heavy.
“ He doesn’t belong here. He’s trying so hard to be what he thinks we all want him to be, he’s forgotten about his dreams.” Her eyes drop, hands twisting.
“ Grief can be manipulative like that, but if his dad was here today, he’d be so disappointed Booth gave up.”
“Have you ever told him this?”
She sighs.
“ Patrick tried the other week, but he shot him down.”
Exhaustion hits me like a freight train and I rub at my temple.
“I’m sorry. This was unfair. It’s just you’re close with him, and we all want him to be happy with his decisions.” Suddenly , I’m pulled into a tight embrace.
“ I want you to be happy, too, but if this is what you both need, then I’d like it if we stayed in touch after you leave. Not just as colleagues, but friends?”
I hesitate for two seconds before I loop my arms around her.
“ I’ll hold you to that.”
After Jo leaves, sleep is impossible.
A myriad of thoughts attacks my brain from all angles.
I’ll miss these women—my friends.
I’ll miss the unspoiled winters.
I’ll miss sparring with the local chef.
I’ll miss plastic red roses.
I’ll miss his dimples.
I’ll miss him.
Kissing Booth .
I stare at the hand-painted red sign hanging above an unattended wooden stand.
Voices and laughter fill the town hall as families and couples zip back and forth between the different vendors.
Handmade soaps. Local beers.
Soy wax candles. Pin the wings on the cupid.
Face painting. The small parking lot even has a miniature fairground for the kids.
“Does this town throw a fair for every occasion?” I ask Quinn .
Her stall is situated opposite the Kissing Booth and my tummy rumbles at the delectable cakes lining her table.
Laughing, she dusts icing sugar from her sleeves.
“ I’m afraid so. They’ve gone all out this year to make up for the Winter Fair being canceled due to the storm.” She eyes the gaudy pink and red love-heart decorations overhead.
“ It’s so cute.”
“You and I have very different tastes.”
She giggles before her eyes flare at something behind me.
“ Well , not all things. We have Sadler men in common.”
I follow her heated stare to find Graham and Booth walking our way.
The former has his eyes trained solely on the tiny baker.
I’m surprised his glasses don’t fog over from his intense gaze.
Graham is quiet, but good lord, his love for Quinn speaks volumes.
When Booth’s gaze meets mine, the happy couple is quickly forgotten.
Blue denim hugs his thighs and a cream sweatshirt shows off his wide shoulders and thick biceps.
His damp hair clings to his forehead, like he’s just stepped out of the shower.
There’s something so masculine about his arms, revealed when he casually rolls his sleeves up.
Corded muscles run up them, and the small white welts of healed burns simply add to his ruggedness.
I know exactly how those rough hands feel on my skin.
“Silver.” His teasing tone interrupts my thoughts.
“ Don’t look at me like that, or I’ll be dragging you into the nearest supply closet.”
I bite my lip, pulling a throaty groan from him.
“ I’m open to that.”
He chucks an arm over my shoulder and smacks a kiss to my cheek.
“ No can do. My shift’s about to start.”
“I thought Simon was covering Our Place’s stall today?”
Like two unruly caterpillars, his eyebrows dance.
“ He is.”
“Jesus Christ , not this again,” Graham grumbles as he gestures toward the abandoned stall across from us.
“ You promised you wouldn’t do this again.”
Booth vibrates with laughter.
“ Yeah , but Aly hasn’t seen me in action. ”
“I’m confused…” My words trail off when I read the sign again.
Kissing Booth .
Booth.
“Oh my god. This isn’t real.” I spin out of his hold.
“ You’re manning a kissing booth?”
He gestures dramatically down his body.
“ Duh . I am Booth .”
My palms muffle my words as my head drops into my hands.
“ You were a lot more tolerable when seasick.”
For the next hour, I’m forced to watch Booth flash his blinding smile to almost every female in Sutton Bay as they line up at his stall—plus a few men.
He drinks it up, chatting and laughing with each person as they hand over their ticket.
At first, the idea of him kissing strangers repulsed me, but to my surprise, he places a chaste kiss on their cheek or hands them a Hershey’s Kiss if they prefer.
His entire family has turned up, laughing at his cheesy pickup lines and over-the-top character.
At ten dollars a ticket, he’s making a killing.
I turn to Jo , who’s been wolf whistling the entire time.
“ What does he do with the money?”
A wave of sadness washes over her, but it’s quickly replaced with adoration.
“ He donates it all to a charity that raises awareness about brain aneurysms and treatment. I lost my mom to one when I was sixteen.”
My hand quickly finds hers, squeezing tightly.
“ I never knew. I’m so sorry.”
She shakes her head.
“ Thank you. It was a long time ago. He’s been doing this for years—even when I wasn’t living here.”
My attention drifts back to Booth to find him already watching me.
He raises his hand and crooks a finger in my direction.
Come here , he mouths.
I fold my arms, pop a hip, and stare him down .
Someone nudges me in the back, and I turn to find Graham smirking at me.
“ C’mon , Aly , it’s for charity.”
Mortification has my body overheating when everyone chants my name.
Aly. Aly . Aly .
Now I really hate small towns.
I scowl at Graham . “ I like you better quiet.”
Not wanting to drag this out, I stomp over toward the stall.
Booth’s smile widens with each step until I’m standing a foot away.
“ Let’s get this over with.”
“Jealous, Silver ?” he purrs.
“Hardly,” I grit out.
“You can’t be mad at me. I didn’t even flash them my moneymakers.”
My eyebrow rises.
“ What on earth are moneymakers?”
Déjà vu assaults me when he circles his face and two divots form on his cheeks.
“ These .”
He leans in close, blue eyes dazzling, and before I know it, the crowd’s cheering as he presses his lips to mine lightly.
The kiss is short and sweet, not our usual, but it has the same effect.
Mind bending. Intense .
Powerful .
He pulls back an inch, leaving me breathless for more.
“You’re an idiot.” My lips ache as I try to hold back my smile.
“Yeah, I know.” He strokes a thumb over my cheek.
“ You love it.”
Yeah. Yeah , I do.